Bärenherz

Bärenherz is a German charitable foundation (Bärenherz Stiftung) based in Wiesbaden that supports and operates children's hospices for severely ill and severely disabled children and young people, as well as their families. It originated as a donation initiative founded in 1999 by Wolfgang Groh, and in 2002 the accumulated funds were converted into a private-law foundation as part of the IFB-Stiftungsnetzwerk. The foundation's mission is to fund and run projects and facilities such as children's hospices, offering care, support and assistance that is holistic, individual and free of charge. The foundation's operational arm, Bärenherz Kinderhospize gGmbH, was established by the foundation and took over sponsorship of the hospices in Wiesbaden and Markkleeberg on 1 January 2012. The first children's hospice in Hesse — and the second in Germany — opened in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim in April 2002; it moved into a new building in August 2012. A second children's hospice opened in Leipzig in 2005 and relocated to a new building in the Kees'scher Park in Markkleeberg near Leipzig in May 2008. The foundation also supports the "Kinderhaus Nesthäkchen" residential facility for children and young people with severe and multiple disabilities in Laufenselden. Bärenherz is a non-profit brand in the German children's hospice movement. It raises funds through donations, legacies, corporate partnerships and volunteer work, and it recruits staff such as nursing directors, paediatric nurses, educators and therapeutic pedagogues for its hospices. Its public profile includes events and campaigns such as yoga fundraisers, autumn festivals and tattoo-studio charity actions. The foundation received the Bambi award in the Engagement category in 2008 and the Georg-August-Zinn-Medaille in 2014.

Bärenherz traces its origins to a donation initiative founded in 1999 by Wolfgang Groh. In 2002, the funds collected up to that point were transferred into a foundation, the Bärenherz Stiftung, established as a private-law foundation based in Wiesbaden and part of the IFB-Stiftungsnetzwerk. Its purpose was to support projects and facilities such as children's hospices for severely ill and severely disabled children and young people and their families. In April 2002, a children's hospice opened in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim — the first in Hesse and the second in the Federal Republic of Germany. In 2005, a second children's hospice opened in Leipzig. In May 2008, that hospice was able to move into a new building in the Kees'scher Park in Markkleeberg near Leipzig. In August 2012, the Wiesbaden hospice moved into a new building. On 1 January 2012, the Bärenherz Kinderhospize gGmbH, founded by the Bärenherz Stiftung, took over the sponsorship (Trägerschaft) of the hospices in Wiesbaden and Markkleeberg. In addition to the hospices, the foundation supports the "Kinderhaus Nesthäkchen" residential facility for children and young people with severe and multiple disabilities in Laufenselden. The foundation has received public recognition for its work: in 2008 it was awarded the Bambi in the Engagement category, and in 2014 it received the Georg-August-Zinn-Medaille. Today Bärenherz continues to raise funds through donations, legacies and volunteer engagement, and it recruits nursing and educational staff for its hospices, while running public events and campaigns in support of children's hospice work.

• 2014

  The foundation is awarded the Georg-August-Zinn-Medaille.

• 2012

  Bärenherz Kinderhospize gGmbH, founded by the foundation, takes over sponsorship of the Wiesbaden and Markkleeberg hospices on 1 January.

• 2012

  The Wiesbaden hospice moves into a new building in August.

• 2008

  The Leipzig hospice moves into a new building in the Kees'scher Park in Markkleeberg near Leipzig.

• 2008

  The foundation receives the Bambi award in the Engagement category.

• 2005

  A second children's hospice opens in Leipzig.

• 2002

  The collected funds are transferred into the Bärenherz Stiftung, a private-law foundation in Wiesbaden and part of the IFB-Stiftungsnetzwerk.

• 2002

  A children's hospice opens in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, the first in Hesse and the second in Germany.

• 1999

  Wolfgang Groh founds the Bärenherz donation initiative.

Non-profit children's hospice foundation offering free, holistic and individual care for children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

• Kinderhospiz Wiesbaden

  Children's hospice in Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, opened in 2002 and relocated to a new building in 2012; operated by Bärenherz Kinderhospize gGmbH.

• Kinderhospiz Markkleeberg

  Children's hospice near Leipzig, opened in 2005 and moved to a new building in Kees'scher Park in Markkleeberg in 2008; operated by Bärenherz Kinderhospize gGmbH.

• Kinderhaus Nesthäkchen

  Residential facility in Laufenselden for children and young people with severe and multiple disabilities, supported by the foundation.

1. 1Gemeinsam für Kinderhospizarbeitbaerenherz.de
2. 2Bärenherz – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Bärenherz – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org